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Proposed Legislation Would Require Online Retailers To Collect Sales Tax
By: Associated Press
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Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wants online retailers to start collecting West Virginia's sales tax on purchases by state residents.
Legislation introduced Wednesday follows the lead of several other states as brick-and-mortar businesses complain of an unfair tax burden.
Tomblin proposes requiring retailers located out-of-state to start applying the sales tax if they or a subsidiary has a physical presence in West Virginia.
That would appear to apply to e-commerce giant Amazon.com, which recently opened a customer service center in Huntington. A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
West Virginia has long pursued e-retail revenues through the multi-state Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Congress has also weighed the online sales tax question, with the latest version of the proposed Marketplace Fairness Act introduced Feb. 14.